Formaldehyde-generator.



No. 746,935. v PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903. R. N. DYER.

I FORMALDEHYDE GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 7

Witnesses: V/Inve tor V x agmfifim v W Am Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT vOFFICE.

RICHARD N. DYER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FORMALDEHYDE-GEN'ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 746,935, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed May 2, 1902. Serial No. 105,583. No model.)

New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Formaldehyde-Generators,of which the following is a description. The object I have in view is to produce a simple and edective device for producing formaldehyde gas from the solid or polymerized forms of formaldehyde commercially known as paraform, in which a body of combustible material, such as saltpetered charcoal, which will burn without flaming, is used to provide the heat for vaporizing the paraform, the paraform and charcoal being inclosed in a container provided with suit able draftopenings, which container conserves the heat and insures its economical absorption by the paraform.

This device is illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the generator. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking downwardly.

The side walls A of the containerare formed of a strip of asbestos paper having a width equal to the length of these side walls, which strip is wound over a rectangular former to give the desired thickness, the layers being cemented together by silicate of soda. In this way. there is produced a rectangular tube of the proper length. The top of the container is closed by a cap B, made of perforated sheet metal and having turned-down points b,'the cap being secured to the container by wrapping the points 19 between the layers of'the asbestos paper of which the side walls A of the container are formed. At the other or lower end of the container openings 01, are cut in the side walls to form air-inlets for producing an upward draft in the container. Near this lower open end of the container the side walls of the tube are connected by a bridge-piece 0, formed, preferably, of a strip of perforated metal having a less width than the container, Fig. 2, and inserted into the container from the bottom and secured therein by silicate-of-soda cement and also by punching the metal into the asbestos walls by means of a suitable tool, as shown at 0.

use. diameter being. great enough to fill the space The paraform candle D is molded of compressed paraform, which is preferably coated with paraffin to prevent evaporation before This candle is of cylindrical form, its

between the side walls of the container, so as to prevent the lateral displacement of the candle during handling and transportation and leaving draft-openings (l at the corners of the container. The parat'orm candle D is also molded with a longitudinal central openingaas shown,givingadraft-opening through the center ofthe candle.

Below the paraform candle is the heating candle E, which may be made of saltpetered charcoal or other suitable material of like character. This charcoal candle is also mold ed in the form of a cylinder, filling the space between the side walls of the container, but leaving the draft-openings d at the angles of the container, audit also is provided with a central longitudinal opening 6', forming a continuation of the opening e of the paraform candle.

The paraform and charcoal candles fill the entire space between the cap B and the bridgepiece G and are held firmly against longitudinal dis placement during handling and transportation by these parts. The two candles are put into the container before the bridgepiece 0 is secured in position, the paraform candle D being first dropped into the container, which is held in a reversed position, and the charcoal candle E being then dropped into the container, after which the bridgepiece 0 is inserted and secured in position.

The charcoal candle is preferably provided at its lower end with a fuse F, cemented into the lower end of the central draft-opening c. This fuse is of more readily ignitable material than the charcoal candle and quickly burns away when lighted, igniting the body of charcoal and opening the lower end of the central draft-opening e.

The formaldehyde-generator of the construction described and shown is used by standing it on its open end on an incombustible surface, such as a porcelain plate, when a lighted match is inserted through one of the openings 0: and the fuse F ignited. This ignites the charcoal candle, which becomes progressively incandescent throughout itsmass flow of the products of combustion over the surface of the paraform, insure the economical absorption of the heat by the paraform, which is evaporated and produces formaldehyde gas, whichv escapes through the perforated cap B.

It will be observed that the fuse F is provided with a shoulder, which rests on top of the bridge-piece C, so that it will not fall from place even when the cement by which it is attached to the charcoal is melted by the heat. This fuse may be omitted and the charcoal ignited by applying the flame of the match directly to its lower end.

My formaldehyde-generator is not only exceedingly simple and cheap in construction, and one Whichis capable of being handled and transported without disturbing the proper position of the parts, but it is also one in which .the heat of the charcoal is so elfectively conserved and'applied to the paraform that the minimum amount of charcoal only is required to vaporize a given amount of paraform.

What I claim is 1. In a formaldehyde-generator, the combination of paraform and charcoal candles placed one on top of the other and having a vertical central opening extending through both candles through which the products of combustion from the charcoal candle are carried upwardly through and in direct contact with the paraform, substantially as set forth.

2. In a formaldehyde-generator, the combination with a tubular container of angular cross-section, of cylindrical paraform and charcoal candles placed one on top of the other within the container and filling the container sidewise except at the angles thereof, such candles having a vertical central opening therethrough whereby the products of combustion from the charcoal candle are carried upwardly both through the center of the paraform candle and outside of the paraform candle through the draft-openings at the angles of the container, substantially as set forth.

3. In aformaldehyde-generator,a container made in the form of a tube of angular crosssection closed at one end by a perforated cap and having a bridge-piece near the other end, and draft-openings in its side Walls below the bridge-piece, in combination with paraform and charcoal candles of cylindrical form located one on top of the other within the container, the diameter of the candles being such as to fill the container sidewise but leaving draft-openings at the angles of the container, and the candles occupying the entire space lengthwise between the cap and the bridgepiece, such candles being also provided with a central draft-opening therethrough, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of May, 1902.

RICHARD N. DYER.

Witnesses:

JNo. RoBT. TAYLOR, JOHN LOUIS LOTSGH. 

